DUFF LAW FIRM, P.L.C.
THOMAS J. DUFF

Duff Law Firm, P.L.C.
The Griffin Building
319 Seventh Street, Suite 600
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3826
Telephone: (888) 251-2722
Fax: (515) 282-0477

Employment Law l Back to employment law menu
Employment Law Frequently Asked Questions

What creates a hostile environment? What is illegal discrimination? My employer has treated me unfairly. My supervisor criticizes me in front of other workers, embarrasses me, shouts at me and loads work on me. I believe I am in a hostile environment. Do I have a case? But it's making me depressed and sick. I cry all the time and when it is time to go to work, I get chest pains. What shall I do? If I file for workers' compensation, my employer will find a reason to fire me. Is there any protection available if I get fired for using workers' compensation benefits?

I just got fired. Many other people did what I did and didn't get fired. Some people did worse things and didn't get fired. It's just not fair. Do I have a case? My supervisor wants me to put false numbers on my records. He says we have to protect the company from the feds. I already did it once, but it made me so upset, I couldn't sleep. Shall I do it again? How long do I have to bring a lawsuit? How can I afford a lawyer?

It depends on what the nature of your lawsuit is and where you are bringing it. In Iowa, you must follow these time limits:

1. For employment discrimination, 180 days from the last act of discrimination (300 days under federal law, but you lose some remedies).
2. For car crashes, two years from date of accident.
3. For medical negligence, two years from the date you discover (note: this is a really complicated area with lots of twists and turns).
4. Bad products, two years from discovery (note: also very complicated).
5. Constitutional violations, two years or four years (depending).
6. Breach of oral contract, five years.
7. Breach of written contract, ten years.
8. Fraud, four years.

Filing sooner is usually better than filing later. The one exception is when you have physical injuries that are likely to get better. We may then recommend that you wait until you have reached the point of maximum recovery, or, in other words, until you are as good as you are going to get.

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